Bourgraf



July 16, 1963 G. BOURGRAF PAPERBOARD BODY FORM Filed June 8, 1961 INVENTOR. GEORGE BOUEGRAF BY /i%w ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,097,361 Patented July 16, 1963 3,097,361 PAPERBOARD BODY FORM George Bourgraf, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to George J. Bourgraf, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed June 8, 1961, Ser. No. 115,798 8 Claims. (Cl. 2-64) This invention relates to a paperboard body form and more specifically to a paperboard blank cut and scored to define bust and torso forming parts which may be assembled and shaped by a mortician for use in body restoration.

Morticians in preparing a subject for burial are often confronted with form restoration problems, usch as bust contour, abdominal areas, and the like, in order to provide a proper foundation for the outer garments. Heretofore, the customary practice has been to employ cotton wadding, sheeting, and similar materials for such purposes. However, as can be appreciated, these materials are relatively difficult to handle and often result in undesirable bulges and other irregularities which are diflicult to conceal and which do not supply a firm support for the outer garments.

Accordingly, a principal object of the instant invention is the provision of a paperboard body form which may be quickly and easily assembled and adjusted to the desired contour and which, when properly placed, provides a firm foundation and aids the appearance of the outer garments.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a body form which is flexible and adaptable to either a tall, short, thin, or heavy subject and which may be read ily adjusted to provide a plurality of bust sizes.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision of a body form of the character described which is readily adaptable for use with either male or female subjects, and which may be selectively contoured to restore any desired area from the subjects shoulders downwardly to the thigh area.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive one-piece device which may be suitably tinted or colored, and which may be readily proofed as to one or both surfaces thereof to resist suture leakage and skin slip.

The foregoing together with other objects of the inven tion which will appear hereinafter or which will be appar cut to the skilled worker in the art upon reading the specification, I accomplish by that construction and arrangements of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a body form in accordance with the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the assembly of the bust forming part.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View illustrating the manner in which the longitudinal sides of the form may be folded to aid in torso or side-rib and abdominal restoration.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating the device positioned for use.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the body form indicated generally at 1 comprises a sheet of paper-board, box board or other similar flexible material suitably cut and scored to define an upper or bust-forming portion 2., an intermediate or abdominal forming portion 3, and a lower or apron forming portion 4 adapted to cover the lower abdomen and thigh areas.

The upper or bust-forming portion 2 is preferably curved in the manner illustrated, so as to define generally circular segments 5 land 6 of opposite hand, the segments terminating in locking tongues 7 and 8 separated from the remainder of the blank by lines of cut 9 and 10. The locking tongues are provided with a plurality of notches or teeth 11 and 12; and the bust portion is provided with elongated slots 13 and 14 positioned to receive the locking tongues 7 and 8 upon displacement of the latter in the direction of the slots. In this connection, it will be noted that the innermost ends of the lines of cut 9 and 10 terminate at substantially the centers of the generally circular segments 5 and 6, so that as the tongues are displaced for passage through the slots, the circular segments will be drawn into generally conical form. The selective engagement of the notches or teeth 11 and 12 with the lowermost ends of the slots 13 and 14, respectively, will determine the ultimate size of the bust. Of course, where the subject is male, the bust-forming portion will remain in initial flat condition, although it will be evident that it may be suitably shaped to follow the contour of the subjects chest.

The intermediate or abdominal forming portion 3 is provided with foldable side or wing portions 15 land 16 each of which is provided with a plurality of generally longitudinally extending score lines 17 by means of which the side portions may be selectively folded to follow the contour of the subjects body, as will be evident from FIG- URE 4. The side portions 15 and 16, upon being suitably shaped, will be ultimately maintained in place by the subjects arms.

The lower or apron forming portion 4 is hingedly connected to the intermediate portion 3 by means of a transverse score line 17 which permits the apron forming portion to be selectively extended or folded to underlie the intermediate portions 3. Where the subjtct is a female, the apron section will normally extend downwardly over the lower torso and upper thighs to prevent the outer garments from following the conformity of limbs below the ad-bornen, thereby allowing for normal dress appearance. For male subjects the apron may be used to span or create a protective area over a collapsed abdomen, in which event the apron section may be folded under. It is also competent to point out that where special fitting is required, the apron may be readily cut to the desired pattern, as may the other portions of the body form if such be required.

It should also be noted that a natural center depression may be made between the bust forming parts by depressing the form in the manner indicated at 18 in FIGURE 3. This may be readily accomplished by placing the palm of one hand under the central area of the form and using the heel of the other hand to deflect the board downwardly to form the desired depression 18.

It will be understood that the body form may be suitably proofed as to one or both surfaces by being coated with a proofing material, such as polyethylene; or the paperboard may be suitably impregnated as an incident of its manufacture. If desired the upper or outer surfaces of the board may be tinted a flesh color, or otherwise.

Having thus described the invention in an exemplary embodiment and with the understanding that modification may be made therein Without departing from its spirit and purpose, what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a body form for use in the restoration of a human torso, a paperboard blank cut and scored to define an upper bust forming portion and an underlying abdomi nal forming portion, said bust forming portion comprising a pair of laterally spaced generally circular segments each terminating in a tongue one side edge of which is defined by a line of cut extending outwardly from the center of the circular segment to the periphery thereof, a slot in each of said circular segments adjacent and in general alignment with the said lines of cut, whereby upon the insertion of said tongues into said slots and their retention therein, said generally circular segments will be formed into generally conical bust defining part-s, said underlying abdominal forming portion having foldable side portion-s adapted to be folded about the opposite sides of the human torso.

2. The body form claimed in claim 2 including an apron forming part hingedly connected to the lowermost end edge of said abdominal forming portion.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said tongue-s is provided with a plurality of notches arranged to be selectively engaged beneath an end edge of the adjacent slot.

4. The device claimed in claim 3 wherein the foldable side portions of said abdominal forming portion are each provided with a plurality of spaced apart score lines arranged to facilitate the folding of said side portions.

5. The device claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one 1 board blank cut and scored to define :a bust forming part and an abdominal forming part, said bust forming part comprising a pair of latenally spaced generally circular segments, each terminating in a tongue, one side edge of which is defined by a line of cut extending outwardly from the center of the circular element to the periphery thereof, each of said generally circular segments having a slot therein for receiving said tongues.

7. The device claimed in claim 6 wherein at least one sunface of said paperboard blank is proofed.

8. The device claimed in claim 7 including means for securing said tongues in said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 508,846 Seaney Nov. 14, 1893 1,335,972 Kellerman Apr. 6, 1920 1,663,573 Tharp Mar. 27, 1928 2,004,098 Andrews June 11, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 760,611 Great Britain Nov. 7, 1953 

1. IN A BODY FORM FOR USE IN THE RESTORATION OF A HUMAN TORSO, PAPERBOARD BLANK CUT AND SCORED TO DEFINE AN UPPER BUST FORMING PORTION AND AN UNDERLYING ABDOMINAL FORMING PORTION, SAID BUST FORMING PORTION COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED GENERALLY CIRCULAR SEGMENTS EACH TERMINATING IN A TONGUE ONE SIDE EDGE OF WHICH IS DEFINED BY A LINE OF CUT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE CENTER OF THE CIRCULAR SEGMENT TO THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, A SLOT IN EACH OF SAID CIRCULAR SEGMENTS ADJACENT AND IN GENERAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE SAID LINES OF CUT, WHEREBY UPON THE INSERTION OF SAID GENERALLY CIRCULAR SEGMENTS WILL RETENTION THEREIN, SAID GENERALLY CIRCULAR SEGMENTS WILL BE FORMED INTO GENERALLY CONICAL BUST DEFINING PARTS, SAID UNDERLYING ABDOMINAL FORMING PORTION HAVING FOLDABLE SIDE PORTIONS ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HUMAN TORSO. 